March 15, 2008

I find it both interesting and appalling that so many persons are trying to attach Barack Obama's faith beliefs to some radical comments his former pastor made some years ago. As if any of us agrees with everything our pastor says ..... and cannot speak for ourselves.

Here is what Obama had to say about this issue in The Huffington Post:The pastor of my church, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who recently preached his last sermon and is in the process of retiring, has touched off a firestorm over the last few days. He's drawn attention as the result of some inflammatory and appalling remarks he made about our country, our politics, and my political opponents.

Let me say at the outset that I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject of this controversy. I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue. read more of "On My Faith and My Church"

The blog also includes a short video of the Rev. Otis Moss, who succeeded Jeremiah Wright as pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ last month. In the video, Moss talks about the church's history and mission. In his tone and his words, Moss paints a very different picture of Barack Obama's church from what's conveyed in the incendiary statements by Wright that have gotten widespread coverage in the last day or two.